Classic Ambrosia Salad
The ancient Greeks used the word “ambrosia” to mean the food of the gods. They believed that this heavenly fare was what made them immortal. But what kind of exquisite, magical food could have that kind of power?
Well, if you ask modern Americans, it’s a fruit salad made with oranges and coconut. Which, if you think about it, kind of makes sense. Because this tangy-sweet blend of fruits tastes absolutely divine.
It starts with a mix of yummy fruits: canned pineapple, mandarin oranges, maraschino cherries, green grapes, and sweetened shredded coconut. Up to this point, it’s pretty much just a basic fruit salad, but then you add the kicker: two cups of colored mini marshmallows, which takes this sweet treat from merely delicious to decadent. And to top it all off, you fold all this into a luscious, creamy “dressing” made from Greek yogurt and whipped topping blended with lemon juice, maple syrup, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
Email Me This Recipe!
Need to save time? Have this article emailed straight to your inbox + sign up for all the latest recipes!
Served chilled, this Classic Ambrosia Salad is rich, creamy, and sweet, with a delightful blend of fruit flavors, fragrant spice, and pillowy-soft marshmallows. It won’t give you eternal youth, as far as I know. But it will sure make you feel like a kid again.
How do I store Ambrosia Salad?
- Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will last up to one week. You can also freeze this for up to one months. Thaw by placing it in the refrigerator overnight.
Is there anything else I can add to this salad?
- This salad is super fun and colorful, which means you can add lots of variety to it if you wish. Try some pecans or walnuts, apple slices, pear slices, or even chocolate chips.
What is “ambrosia?”
- Ambrosia was considered the “food of the Gods” in Greek Mythology. This food or drink supposedly gave the gods their long life and strength. Humans were unable to consume ambrosia, for fear of punishment or death. However, you can definitely consume and enjoy this ambrosia with no fear of divine repercussions.
How to Make Classic Ambrosia Salad
- Combine the cool whip, Greek yogurt, lemon juice, maple syrup, vanilla extract, cinnamon, and nutmeg into a large bowl and mix until completely combined.
- Add the remainder of the ingredients (Marshmallows, pineapple, mandarin oranges, cherries, grapes, and coconut) and fold them together.
- Refrigerate for 1-2 hours and then serve.
More dessert recipes we love!
- Sugar Cookie Cake
- Bunny Butt Funfetti Cheese Ball
- Chocolate Turtle Cake
- No Bake Strawberry Twinkie Cake
Classic Ambrosia Salad
Email this recipe!
Get this recipe emailed straight to your inbox!
Ingredients
- 8 ounces whipped topping
- ½ cup full-fat plain Greek yogurt
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
- ⅛ teaspoon nutmeg
- 2 cups mini colored marshmallows
- 1 15-ounce can pineapples chunks, drained
- 1 11-ounce can mandarin oranges, drained
- 1 cup maraschino cherries cut in half stems removed and drained
- 1 cup green grapes halved
- ½ cup sweetened shredded coconut
Instructions
- Combine the cool whip, Greek yogurt, lemon juice, maple syrup, vanilla extract, cinnamon, and nutmeg into a large bowl and mix until completely combined.
- Add the remainder of the ingredients (Marshmallows, pineapple, mandarin oranges, cherries, grapes, and coconut) and fold them together.
- Refrigerate for 1-2 hours and then serve.
Video
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclaimer: Family Fresh Meals is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is only an estimate. We recommend running the ingredients through an online nutritional calculator if you need to verify any information.
Did You Make This Recipe?
Make sure to share it with me below!
